Coin-operated trained animal amusement apparatus

ABSTRACT

A trained animal amusement apparatus in which a trained chicken or other animal in a containing compartment engages a person in a game of skill which takes place in a playing compartment. Electric circuitry is provided to enable a trained animal and a person to participate in a sequential game. Provision is expressly made to prevent both players from operating at the same time. A solenoid controlled impeller is provided to direct a ball towards a target. Alternative switching provides for separate turns for the trained animal and person. Scoring may be registered when the ball goes through a target in one embodiment. The trained animal is rewarded for successful completion of its specified routine of performance or game task.

United States Patent 1191 Evans et a1.

14 1 Apr. 17, 1973 1 COIN-OPERATED TRAINED ANIMAL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS[75] Inventors: Grant Evans, Hot Springs National Park; Billy Joe Petty,Malvern; Robert E. Bailey, Hot Springs National Park, all of Ark.

[73] Assignee: Animal Behavior Enterprises, Inc..-

Hot Springs National Park, Ark.

[22] Filed: July 8, 1971 v [2]] Appl. No.: 160,862

[52] US. Cl ..l94/12, 119/29 [51] Int. Cl. ..A0lk 15/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..194/l2, D10. 11;

Y 273/1 R, 89, 90, 87, 88,118,118 A, 119 A, 120 A; 119/29 ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,980,125 11 1934 Whitney ..l94/D1G. 11

2/1960 Schlapa ..273/88 1/1967 Evans ..ll9/29X Primary ExaminerStanleyH. Tollberg Att0rneyRobert C. Brown, Jr. et a1.

57' ABSTRACT A trained animal amusement apparatus in which a trainedchicken or other animal in a containing compartment engages a person ina game of skill which takes place in a playing compartment. Electriccircuitry is provided to enable a trained animal and a person toparticipate in a sequential game. Provision is expressly made to preventboth players from operating at the same time. A solenoid controlledimpeller is provided to direct a ball towards a target. Alternativeswitching provides for separate turns for the trained animal and person.Scoring may be registered when the ball goes through a target in oneembodiment. The trained animal is rewarded for successful completion ofits specified routine of performance or game task.

16 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATEHTEUAFRIYIQB I 3,727! 740 SHEET 1 of 6INVENTORS GRANT EVANS BILLY JOE PETTY %OBERT BA/LE Y B awn @2 3 W ATTYS. 6

PATENTEB APR 1 H975 sum 2 OF 6 INVENTORS GRANT E VANS BILLY JOE PE7 1 YROBERT E. BAILEY ATT'YS.

PATENTEBAPR171975 Y 5.727; 740

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' INVENTORS RAN EVANS r 1 BILLY JOE PETTYYY L ROB FT E. BAIL Y.PATENIEUAPRWQ I I 3,727'740 SHEET 4 UF 6 I N VE NTORS GRANT EVANS BILLY.105 PETTY 'ROBERTE. BAILEY PATENTEDAPR 1 H915 5.727. 740

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Q COIN-OPERATED TRAINED ANIMAL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS BACKGROUND OFINVENTION This invention pertains to trained animal amusement I deviceswherein a trained animal performs a game task to provide competition fora person in an alternating turn game, such as baseball, bowling or thelike. I

Chickens, cats, rabbits and other small animals have been trained to dosimple tasks or tricks, the conditioning resulting from providing areward stimulus for completing the activity in a predetermined manner.Thus, such animals, after successfully performing, have been manuallyrewarded by a trainer or other attendant who observed the performance.Devices which measure the performance of the trained animal, such as Idescribed in U. S. Pat. No. 3,297,324, have been used to automaticallyprovide a reward to the successfully performing animal.

The present invention provides a relatively equalcontest involving apredetermined sequence of operations between a person and a trainedanimal. A signal is given to a player to commence play. The playerperforms a game task such as closing a switch to key an im pellersolenoid to drive a ball towards a target. Successful 'play cycles thedevice to operation by the other player. Scores may be registered tocompare the difference in performance by the trained animal and person,and a reward is provided to the trained animal for completing a scoringcycle.

' SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In an exemplary form, this invention pertainsto a trained animal amusement device comprising a two compartmentcabinet, one compartment of which is designed to contain a trainedanimal, such as a chicken, so that it may be viewed by the public andmay operate a playing mechanism. The second compartment displays aplaying field which may be decorated to suggest a miniature baseballdiamond or the like. A means for a lockout and cycling circuit whichprevents further play by the person and provides a trained chicken witha cuing signal indicating that it should operate its switch until it canregister a score, and upon scoring the trained chicken will be rewardedwith a predetermined amount of feed from an' electrically activatedfeeder. Score may be displayed on small lights in the vicinity of thetarget area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a general perspective viewof the device of the invention as might be used in a baseball-type game;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the playing area thereof, takenalong line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the animal containing compartmentthereof, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view taken along line 44 of FIG.2'illustrating the playing area;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of the device along line 5- 5 of FIG. 2 withthe back removed;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the impeller mechanism along line 6-6 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a detailed front elevational view of the rear bulkhead of theplaying area in a bowling embodiment of the device;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view with parts broken away to show the playingarea where the game is one of low scoring, such as golf;

FIG. 9 is a detailed perspective view of the impelling apparatus of thedevice of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the scoring switch showing the deviceof FIG. 8 with the back removed;

FIG. 11 is a basic circuit diagram of the FIG. 1 embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 12 is a basic circuit diagram for the FIG. 8 embodiment of theinvention;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to thedrawingswherein like numbers of reference will be used to refer to like elementsthroughout, FIG. 1 is an illustrationof a two compartment trained animalamusement device contained in a glass fronted cabinet, generallydesignated 20, wherein one compartment, designated 21, is provide tocontain and display a trained chicken or other animal. The secondcompartment, designated 22, clearly displays a sloping playing fieldwhich may be decorated to show a miniature baseball diamond 23 or thelike.

I In the playing compartment 22, as illustrated in FIG. 2,'at the lowerend of the sloping playing field 24 a miniature baseball bat 25 islocated. This bat is part of the impeller mechanism of the device. Thebat is pivoted on a hollow shaft 26 extending through and below theplaying field 24. A lever 29 is attached to the bottom end of pivotshaft 26. Linkages to solenoid 27 and return spring 28 are attached toopposite ends of lever 29. When the solenoid 27 is energized, the bat 25will swing to strike a ball 30. This ball is preferably of light weight,such as a table tennis ball.

At the upper end of the play field 24 is bulkhead 31 in which targetopenings 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d are provided through which the ball 30maypass. If the ball is driven through an opening, it may hit an aluminumscreen 33 which is loosely suspended to absorb the momentum of the balland to prevent it from rebounding back onto the playing field.Assumingffor example,

that the ball were to pass through the target opening farthest totheright, i.e., target opening 32d, its course can be followed in FIG. 2.The ball hits aluminumanti- 1 bounce screen 33 and is deadened. The deadball drops through the narrowing opening 37d and strikes an arm of wire34d, or other material, to activate the electric switch'35d associatedwith the target. Alternatively, mechanically operated switches may bereplaced with photoelectric cells which sense the interruption of a beamof light by the ball in the target area. If four openingsare used, they'might be labelled single,

double," triple," and home run, or otherwise be identified as havingscore value. As a result of closing the switch 35d, or being sensed by aphotocell, the ball activates a small light in light set 36d associatedwith target 32d and operates a cycling mechanism (not illustrated) toend the scoring players turn. The ball drops through the opening 37d andpast the switch arm 34d upon a surface 38 which is sloped from back tofront and, here illustrated, from left to right. This surface convergeswith the underside of sloped playing field 24 at joint 39 (thedashedline in FIG. 4). The surface narrows to direct the returning balldown and to the right until it exits at opening 40 back-onto the playingfield 24.

The playing field 24 slopes so that the ball 30 is returned from theball return opening 40 after scoring or by bouncing or rolling over theplaying field after missing the targets to a position in front of thebat 25. At the low end of the playing field, a sloping sheet of clearplastic material 41, such as Plexiglas, covers the bat, but leaves spacebetween it and the playing field for the bat to be swung. Thistransparent cover 41 slopes in a direction opposite to that of theplaying field 24, so that, if the ball should bounce above or behind thebat, the sloping cover will cause it to roll to a position in front ofthe bat. The back or downhill edge of the cover serves as a stop toretain the ball in a proper position to be struck by the bat. This stopedge of the cover is of a length equal to much of the length of the bat,so that the ball, returning to its rest position, may, as a matter ofchance, be struck by any exposed edge of the swinging bat.

Also seen in this FIG. 2 view are the persons switch 42, and lightedturn indicating and cue signs 43 and 44. The trained animals cuing light45, its switch operating loop 46, and the detail of the impellingmechanism are visible. These items will be discussed hereinafter in adescription of the playing sequence and in reference to FIG. 6.

In the trained animal containing compartment 21, as illustrated in FIG.3, is located a mesh screen floor 47 upon which the trained chicken orother animal waits. Below this screen floor is a droppings tray 48. Whenthe trained animal is signalled to play by cuing light 45, it sticks itshead through opening 50 and grabs the switch operating loop 46 and pullsit to activate the impelling mechanism to swing the bat. Upon scoring bythe trained animal, a feeder 51 is operated and sends a reward amount offeed into feed cup 52a. Feed cup 52b is provided with water. Thecoin-operated switch S3 is visible in this view.

FIG. 4, a sectional plan view of the playing field 24, shows therelationship of many of the features described in FIG. 2. It is to beespecially noted that the bat 25 has rounded protrusions 25a, 25b, 25cand 25d on its forward edge. These protrusions cause the ball to bestruck in any ofa number of directions which cannot readily bepredicted. A single blow of the bat may drive the ball into any one ofthe target openings, or the ball may miss altogether. If the ball doesnot enter one of the openings, it rolls back down the surface of theplaying field to be returned to the bat.

In FIG. 5, the rear of the playing compartment 22, with the aluminumanti-bounce screen 33 removed, is shown in an elevational view; Targetopenings 320,

32b, 32 c and 32d are visible. It is noted that below the playing field24 openings 37a, 37b, 37c and 37a converge over the trip arms 34a, 34b,34c and 34d, which are shown in FIG. 4, of switches 35a, 35b, 35c and35d, respectively. A ball dropping through one of these openings willactuate the switch associated with it. The rear of the scoring lamp sets36a, 36b, 36c and 36d can be seen above the target openings. One lightof each set will indicate whether one of the players has scored in thattarget. The underside of the sloping surface 38, across which scoringballs pass to ball return opening 40, is visible, as is some of theapparatus of the impelling mechanism described hereinafter.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the impeller mechanism. Hollow bat pivot 26is attached to lever 29. To one end of this lever, attached by means oflinkage 54, is solenoid 27 which causes the baseball bat 25 to swing. Tothe other end of the lever, return spring 28 is attached, which servesto return the bat to its rest position. The solenoid 27 may be energizedby pushing the players switch 42, or by pulling the trained animalsswitch operating loop 46. This switch operating loop is attached to cord55, the tension of which is adjusted with wing nut 56. The cord isattached to trip arm 57 of switch 58 which actuates the solenoid 27.Cuing light 45 is also visible.

FIG. 7 showsan alternative rear bulkhead 131 which could be used in asimulated bowling game. Target openings 1320, 132b and 132C areprovided, as are scoring lamp sets 1360, 136b and 136c. The value of thetargets may be, as illustrated, 1 pin, spare," or strike, or some otherway of indicating value. The only change from the apparatus previouslydescribed is number of targets. I

In FIg. 8, the playing compartment 222 is designed to simulate a lowscoring game, such as golf. At the lower end of the sloped playing field224 is located a miniature golf club 225. At the upper end of theplaying field is a target opening 232 suggesting the hole" in golf. Onthe rear bulkhead '231 are stroke counters a and 6012. A cue light 245is provided for the trained animal, as is a switch operating loop 246. Apush button switch 242 and lighted turn indicating and cue signs 243 and244 are provided for the person. At the bottom end of the playing field224 is a sloping surface 241, sloping in the opposite direction to theplaying field with the front downhill edges converging in a point infront of the golf club 225 to properly position the ball to be strucktowards the target 232.

FIG. 9 shows in detail the ball driving mechanism of FIG. 8. It is anelectromechanical mechanism similar to the impelling mechanism describedabove in relation to FIG. 6. However, it operates through a verticalrather than a horizontal plane. Club 225 is connnected to a pivot shaft226 which runs through a bearing 61 on top of post 62. At the oppositeend of the pivot shaft bell crank 229 is attached. Return spring 228 isattached to one arm of the ball crank 229 and linkage 254 to solenoid227 is attached to the other arm. When the person's switch 242 isdepressed, or the trained animal's switch operating loop 246 is pulled,the solenoid 227 is energized causing club 225 to swing forward. Whenthe solenoid is released, return spring 228 returns the club to its restposition.

lamp 65 to photoelectric cell 66. This activates a a cycling mechanismto provide separate turns for the players, as hereinafter described. Theball continues down ramp 63 -until it reaches ball return tunnel 67. Theball then goes forward down sloping ball return tunnel 67 until it exitsat ball return opening 240. The enclosure for the photocell is soconstructed as to shield the cell from unwanted effects of stray lightwhich might otherwise bypass the ball.

CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS Several illustrative relay circuits have been includedto facilitate the understanding of this invention. Many of the functionscan be performed equally'well by transistors and solid stateelectronics. Referring now to FIG. 11, there is shown a circuit diagramwhich is adapted for usein an embodiment where high score is the desiredresult,.s'uch as the device shown in FIG. 1.

This diagram illustrates one method of programming a sequence ofoperations in which each player is given a single turn. Four relays of aconventional type areemployed. The relays are identified A, B, C and D.The movable contact arms of each relay are numbered. The relays areenergized by means of a direct current power source (not shown).Positive symbols indicate points common to the positive side of thepower source and negative symbols indicate points common to the negativeside. Two of the outputs for the ball driving solenoid and for thefeeder activating solenoid are indicated as alternating current operatedsince it is practical to power these with ordinary house current.

Four switches are shown: a switch (S-l) operated to turn the device on,this may be a simple push button closure type,.but more often is of acoin-operated type; a switch (8-2) to be operated by the person; aswitch (8-3) to be operated by the trained animal; and one or moreswitches (84) which are operated by the ball when a score is made. Themechanical details of the device are such that each of these switchs isclosed only momentarily.

Momentary closure of the coin-operated switch 8-] energizes the coil ofrelay A, having four movable contact arms A-l, A-2, A-3 and A-4. Contactarm A-l carries alternating current to operate the ball driving solenoidSL-l when switches S-2 and 8-3 are closed to swing the bat impeller.Contact arm A-2 carries direct current and provides power to the'cuinglamp and informational signs 43, 44 and 45. Contact arm A-3 carriesdirect current and is'used to energize relay B when the ball switch 8-4is momentarily closed. Contact arm A4 is connected to rest contact D-2of unenergized relay D to keep relay A energized during the entire cycleof operation by providing direct current to its coil.

The routine of play would be as follows: the person would insert a coinin coin-operated switch S-l, relay I A then energizes, over contact A-l,switch 8-2 for the person to' operate the ball impeller solenoidSL-l. Inthe meantime, information sign 43 is lighted by current passing overcontact arm A-2 and tells the person to push his button. This is donerepeatedly by pressing switch 42 until the ball passes through a targetopening and activates a ball switch S-4. Momentary closure of the switchsupplies current, through a diode, to the coils of relays B and C. Aparallel connection to the movable contact arm C-1 of relay Cshort-circuits the coil of relay C during the time the ball switch 8-4is closed. A resistor R1 protects the direct current power supply fromthe short circuit. The circuit, including contact arm A-3 of relay A andcontact arm 8-3 of relay B, maintains relay B in an energized state whenthe ball switch 8-4 opens. The opening of the ball switch removes theshort circuit from the coil of relay C, allowing it to be energized byits direct connection to relay B. The diode prevents current flow fromthe coil of relay B to the contact arm C-1 of relay C.

The energizing of relay B transfers current from the persons informationsign 43 to information sign 44 (indicating the animals turn) and to cuelight 45 by contact arm B 2. Similarly, power is transferred from thepersons switch 8-2 to the trained animal's switch 8-3. The animal, cuedto respond, operates its switch (repeatedly if necessary) until the ballis driven through a targetto actuate the ball switch 8-4. The secondclosure of the ball switch completes a circuit, through contact C-1 ofthe energized relay C to the coil of relay D.

The energizing of relay D closes 'a circuit through contact arm D-l ofrelay D to the solenoid SL-2 of the electric feeding device 51 therebyopening a gate to release a predetermined amount of feed. Contact arm.

' D-3 of relay D connects a charged capacitor to the coil of relay D toensure that relay D will remain energized for a period long enough toassure proper functioning of the feeding device 51. v

. The energizing of relay D also opens a circuit including rest contactD-2 of relay D. Current is thus removed from contact arm A-4 of relay A.As a result, relay A is deenergized, the current through movable contactarm A-3 of relay A is cutoff, releasing relays B .and C. The operatingcycle is thus completed. Relay D is released when the capacitor isdischarged. The capacitor is then recharged with direct current throughcontact arm D-3 of relay D and resistor R2.

Referring now to FIG. 12, there is shown a circuit diagram which isadapted for use in an embodiment where low score is the desired result,such as the golftact arm E-2 carries direct current and provides powerto the cuing arm lamp 245 and the informational signs 243 and 244.Contact arm -E-3 carries direct current and is used toenergize relay Fwhen the ball switch 8-8 is momentarily closed. Contact arm E-4 carriesdirect current to keep relay E energized during the entire cycle ofoperation.

The typical routine of play would be as follows: the person would inserta coin in the coin-operated switch S-5, relay E is energized permittingpower to travel across contact arms -1 and F-l to activate switch 8-6for the trained animal to operate the ball impelling circuit. Thetrained animal closes impeller switch 8-6 which keys relay J. Contactarm J-l provides alternating current to the ball driving solenoid SL-3while contact arm .l-2 sends a counting signal to stroke counter 60!)registering the number of switch closures by the trained animal-Theswitch is closed repeatedly until the ball passes through the targetopening and closes ball-activated switch S-8. Momentary closure ofswitch S-8 supplies current, through a diode, to the coils of relays Fand G. A parallel connection to the contact arm G-l of relay Gshort-circuits the coil of relay G during the time the ball-activatedswitch is closed. A resistor R-3 protects the direct current supply fromthe short circuit. The circuit, including contact arm E-4 of relay E andcontact arm F4 of relay F, maintains relay F in an energized state whenthe ball-activated switch opens. The opening of the ball-activatedswitch removes the short circuit from the coil of relay G, allowing itto be energized by its direct connection with relay F. The diodeprevents current flow from the coil of relay F to the contact arm Gl ofrelay G. Contact arm F-3 connects a charged capacitor to the coil ofrelay H.

Contact arm I-I-l of relay H provides alternating current to operate thefeeder solenoid SL-4 opening a gate to release a predetermined amount offeed to. reward the trained animal for scoring. The discharge of thecapacitor through the coil of relay H ensures that relay H will remainenergized for a period long enough to assure proper functioning of thefeeding device 51.

The energizing of relay F transfers current from the trained animal cuelamp 245 and the lighted information sign 243 to the personsturn-indicating and information sign 244. Similarly, power istransferred from the trained animals switch 8-6 to the person's switch5-7. The person operates his switch until the ball is driven to actuatethe ball-activated switch. His switch S-7 works in the same manner asthe trained animal's switch 8-6. Each activation keys relay K. Contactarm K-l provides alternating current to operate ball-driving solenoidSL-3 while contact arm K-Z sends a counting signal to stroke counter 60aregistering the number of switch closures by the person. The secondclosure of ball-activated switch S-8 completes a circuit, throughcontact arm G-] of the energized relay G, to short-circuit relay Ecausing relay E to release. A resistor lR-S protects the direct currentsupply from the short circuit.

The releasing of relay E opens a circuit including contact arm E-3. A sa result, relays F and G are released. The operating cycle is thuscompleted.

The releasing of relay F closes a circuit through contact arm F-3 andresistor R-4 to recharge the capacitor connected to arm F3.

Referring 'now to FIG. 13, there is shown a simple means of employingfour ball-activated switches S-4a, S-4b, S-4c and S-4d rather than thesingle ball-activated switch 5-4 shown in FIG. 11. The lead 70 to relaysB and C replaces the connection of switch 8-4. In addition, FIG. 13shows four relays L, M, N and 0, any one of which will remember theparticular switch closed by the person or trained animal. A lamp 36a],36b], 36c! and 36d! in parallel with each relay is activated to make thescore visible to the person. A relay, once energized, holds itselfenergized by means of its own contact. The diodes block current thatwould otherwise flow from one relay to another. Opening the normallyclosed switch S-9 releases any energized relay to erase the score. Inpractice, the erase switch function may be performed by a control relayor by the coin switch (inserting a coin erases the score of a precedinggame). Scores of both the person and trained animal may be registered byuse of two sets of the relays of FIG. 13.

A means of permitting several cycles by the player might involveprogramming with the use of a conventional electro-mechanical steppingswitch. Possible circuitry is shown in FIG. 14. A stepping switch 8-10having two levels or contact rows A and B is shown. The sequencecommences with the stepping switch contact arms 71 and 72 at their homepositions, i.e., at the contacts numbered 1. A momentary closure of thecoinoperated switch S-ll completes the circuit through contact 1 oflevel A to the stepping magnet 73. The resulting step moves the armstogether to the contacts numbered 2. Succeeding contacts of level A arealternately connected to the persons information and turn indicatingsign 43 and the animals cue lamp 45 and information sign 44, directing,alternately, the person and the animal to respond. Similarly, thealternate contacts of level B connect to ball impelling switch S-l2 forthe person, and switch 8-13 for the trained animal, allowing either theperson or the trained animal, synchronously with the appearance of cuesignals, to operate the switches activating the ball driving solenoid.Each hit made by the person or-the animal momentarily closes a ballactivated switch 8-14 to energize electromagnet 73 to advance thestepper.

The final successful response made, the electromagnet advances thestepping switch to a position (contact 10 of level A, as illustrated)applying current to a relay which actuates an electric feeder. Therelay, while not shown, may have its associated circuitry essentiallythat of relay D in FIG. 11. The number of alternating cycles can bevaried over a wide range, depending on the number of stepping switchcontacts employed.

PLAYING SEQUENCE The device in the baseball embodiment operates asfollows:

A customer inserts a coin or coins in a coin slot. A miniature electricsign 43 lights up, displaying the words Press the Button to Swing theBat," or the like. The customer, in response, presses a button,repeatedly if necessary, to operate the game task means, a solenoidcontrolled impeller, until the ball is driven through one of the targetopenings. A lamp, associated with the particular opening, lights up toindicate the score. The Press the Button" sign goes out and another sign44 worded The Birds Turn," or the like, lights up. At the same time, asmall signal light 45 near the trained chickens switch (or this might bean audible signal) turns on to signal the chicken to perform. Thechicken responds by operating the switch to key the solenoid to swingthe bat, several times if necessary, until the ball is driven throughany of the target openings. The score made by the chicken is registeredby the second of the lights of the set associated with the particulartarget. The scores of the person and the chicken may then be compared.The electrically actuated feeding device rewards the chicken for itseffort. The operating cycle is now complete. 7

Many variations of the device will become apparent to those skilled inthe art. For example, sensitive pressure plates, or the like,mightsubstitute as targets, rather than the openings into which a ballpasses. Transistors and solid state electronics may be used tosupplement or replace the relays used. The sequence can be varied tohave either player start first. The, method of scoring and number ofcycles can be adjusted to simulate many kinds of games. The device can Ioperating the animal feeding device includes a sole- -means includes anelectric control device.

6. The apparatus of claim wherein said control device is a relaycircuit.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for noid:

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for transferring play isan automatic relay circuit.

be set up to permit as high a score as possible to be achieved over agiven period of time. in this last variation, care must be exercised toprovide the trained animal with an extra, non-scoring turn to drive theball after the time is up, so that it will know that it will receive itsreward with certainty. Otherwise, the animal will become confused in itsconditioning and so sluggish in its behavior that it cannotsatisfactorily participate and complete its game task.

These embodiments in whichan exclusiveproperty or privilege is claimedare as follows:

1. In a contest amusement game to be played between a trained animalplayer and a person, the combination of:

a. game task means operable by either player,

b. means for activating said game task means for sequential play by saidplayers,

c. lockout means for preventing simultaneous play by both players,

d. means for operating a cue signal when it is time for the animalplayer to play,

e. means for operating an animal feeding device when the animal playerhas successfully completed its use of the game task means, and

f. means for operating said lockout means to transfer play from oneplayer to the other when the first has completed its game task.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said game task means includes asolenoid actuated impeller.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for activating said gametask means includes an electric 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein themeans for transferring play is a solid state circuit.

10. A trained animal amusement device providing a game between twoplayers, one being a person and one being a trained animal comprisingmeans to establish an initial playing condition for the first playerwhile locking out the playin means for the second player,

playing means by whic the initial player performs a game task andestablishes a similar playing condition for the second player, playingmeans by which the second player performs the game task while lockingout the playing means for the first player and completes the playingcycle, and means to reward the trained animal for successfully operatingits playing means.

11. The trained animal amusement device of claim 10 which includes meansupon completion of the second game task to reestablish the originalconditions of the device.

12. The trained animal amusement device of claim 11 wherein the means toestablish conditions for the first player to play includes a switch.

13; The trained animal amusement device of claim 16. The trained animalamusement device of claim 11 wherein the meansto reward said trainedanimal includes an electrically activated feeder.

1. In a contest amusement game to be played between a trained animalplayer and a person, the combination of: a. game task means operable byeither player, b. means for activating said game task means forsequential play by said players, c. lockout means for preventingsimultaneous play by both players, d. means for operating a cue signalwhen it is time for the animal player to play, e. means for operating ananimal feeding device when the animal player has successfully completedits use of the game task means, and f. means for operating said lockoutmeans to transfer play from one player to the other when the first hascompleted its game task.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said gametask means includes a solenoid actuated impeller.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said means for activating said game task means includesan electric switch activated solenoid.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3wherein said switch is coin operated.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said lockout means includes an electric control device.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 5 wherein said control device is a relay circuit. 7.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for operating the animalfeeding device includes a solenoid.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe means for transferring play is an automatic relay circuit.
 9. TheappaRatus of claim 1 wherein the means for transferring play is a solidstate circuit.
 10. A trained animal amusement device providing a gamebetween two players, one being a person and one being a trained animalcomprising means to establish an initial playing condition for the firstplayer while locking out the playing means for the second player,playing means by which the initial player performs a game task andestablishes a similar playing condition for the second player, playingmeans by which the second player performs the game task while lockingout the playing means for the first player and completes the playingcycle, and means to reward the trained animal for successfully operatingits playing means.
 11. The trained animal amusement device of claim 10which includes means upon completion of the second game task toreestablish the original conditions of the device.
 12. The trainedanimal amusement device of claim 11 wherein the means to establishconditions for the first player to play includes a switch.
 13. Thetrained animal amusement device of claim 12 wherein said switch is coinactivated.
 14. The trained animal amusement device of claim 11 whereinthe playing means for each player includes a switch to activate animpeller solenoid to perform the game task.
 15. The trained animalamusement device of claim 11 wherein the means for changing conditionsof play upon completion of each player''s game task includes a relayswitching circuit.
 16. The trained animal amusement device of claim 11wherein the means to reward said trained animal includes an electricallyactivated feeder.